The Black Keys’ Dan Auebarch is being sued over Howlin’ Wolf documentary

Producers claim he agreed to direct the film, demanded costly alterations and then refused to reimburse them

The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach is being sued over his involvement with in a planned documentary about Chicago blues musician Howlin’ Wolf.

Production company Smokestack Lightning Inc. claim the guitarist verbally agreed to act as the director and executive producer of Smokestack Lightning: The Legendary Howlin’ Wolf, and set about demanding “certain material alterations and expansions” when the film was in post-production.

According to the production company, Auerbach wanted new interviews, additional licensed material, a new writer, “an entirely new camera and filming format” and other things.

Pitchfork reports that the producers claim whenever they spoke to Auerbach about the rising costs, his team threatened to back out of the project. Smokestack say they fulfilled his requests, but the guitarist still quit. They allege he refused to reimburse them for the changes he made.

Now, Smokestack are suing Auerbach for breach of a verbal agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unfair business practice and negligent misrepresentation. They are looking for $100,000 (£75,756) in compensation.